Lubricating device for clutch pilot bearing



Dgc. 1, 1931. B LOEFFLER 1,834,285

LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR CLUTCH. PILOT BEARING Filed Sept. 1.2. 1929 mum/cram:

' and do not depend on a regular,

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES FATENr;.;o1 r1E f BRUNO LOEFFLER, or PLAINFIELD, nnw "J'rinsnvgassienon To "INTER-NATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, on NEW YORK, N. a oonron'aj'rron or DELAWARE LUBRIGA'IING DEVICE ron 'c n'rc r rrLorrrmRrne- Applicationfiled September 12, 192 9.-. Serial No. 392,079;

The present invention relates to lubricating systems and embodies, more specifically, an improved means for lubricating a clutch pilot bearing as used particularly in motor vehicle constructions.

The dilficulty of lubricating, adequately,

clutch pilot bearings has long been recognized and many systems for lubricating such bearings have been suggested without successfully solving the problem. Many of these systems have been make-shift in character or periodic supply of lubricant to the bearing. The present invention incorporates within the existing elements adjacent the clutch pilot bearing, a means for lubricating the same, in the embodiment shown, such means being incorporated to function simultaneously with the crank shaft lubricating means.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a means for lubricating, effectively, the pilot bearing of aclutch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for regularly supplying a lubri cant to a clutch pilot bearing and carrying away the used lubricant therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to incorporate in an existing lubricating meansfor the crank shaft, a means for lubricating, simultaneously, the clutch pilot bearing.

Further objects, not specifically enumera ed above, will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in section, taken through the rear main bearing of a crank shaft bearing and showing a portion of the crank shaft broken away and in section to illustrate the lubricating means of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows. V

Figure 3 is a view in elevation, showing the oil groove in the crank shaft bearing of Figure 1.

Referring to the above drawings, a designates a crank shaft which may have an oil duct 0; for lubricating the crank arms thereof. This oil duct may be drilled in the usual manner diagonally from the plane of a main tension a bearing to the plane ofthe bearing a as shown in Figure l. Thecrank arm is formed with an end bearing a? which is journaled in aisupport I) carriedby the engine- An exserves as a-means'by which a clutch 0 is secured to the crank shaft,.a clutch shaft 0'' being axi-ally mountedwith respect to the main bearing a? in a pilot bearing 0 This pilot bearing is provided with anoi'l seal 0 for .preventlng leakage of oil betweenthe clutch. i

Y All oil duct'bis formed in the bearing sup port and carries alubricant from-a source of supply, such asa reservoir or pump, toare- C6 $1bg adjacent the bearing of the crank shaft; A grooved memberdv isinsertedw-ith. inth'ebearing support 6 and lies adjacent the, main bearing (1 extending circumferentially thereof for a'distance which is'substanti'ally half that of the circumference. Aigroove-d",-, disposed radially of the axis of the bearing a extends for a suitable distance around the inner periphery of the grooved member d. An ofiset longitudinal extension d communicates with the groove 03 and a port 0Z provides a communication from the recess 6 to the In operation, it will be seen that the crank shaft bearings are lubricated in the usual manner from circumferential duct or groove cl through the ducts a Every revolution of the crank shaft causes the duct a to com municate with the extension (1 and thus supply lubricant from the circumferential duct d through the extension (1 thereof, and ducts a and a to the pilot bearing. The used lubricant is drained into the crank case through the longitudinal duct M. In this Sept, A. D. 1929.

manner, the pilot bearing is lubricated periodically and an adequate suppl of lubricant to such bearing is therefore a orded.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lubricating device for a bearing comprising a shaft, a bearing support therefor, a relatively rotatable shaft, means to journal the second shaft in the first, coaxially therewith, means to seal the journal bearing, a supply of lubricant carried by thebearing support under pressure, a groove on the inner periphery of the bearing'support, a longitudinal extension in the groove, a duct in the shaft communicating with the extension and the bearing, and a duct in the shaft communieating with the bearing to carry lubricant away therefrom.

2. A lubricating device for a bearing comprising a shaft, a bearing support therefor, an insert bushing carried by the bearing support, a relatively rotatably shaft, meanst'o journal the second shaft in the first, coaxially therewith, means to seal the journal bearing, a supply of lubricant carried by the bearing support under pressure, agroove on the inner periphery of the bushing having a longitudinal extension, and a duct in the shaft communicating with the extension and the bearing. r

This specification signed this 6th day of BRUNO LOEFFLER. 

